Interested in having something different and special for your upcoming birth?
Thinking about Home Birth?

When I became pregnant with Ollin, my third child, and after having had two hospital vaginal deliveries (with all the bells and whistles of hospital interventions, induction, IV’s, fastings, epidural, direct pushing, etc.) I knew I wanted something different for myself and my new baby. I sat down my husband and asked him to watch the Business of Being Born on Netflix. After the documentary was over, he turned over and asked me “Sweetheart, what is it that you’re asking me?” I cried and told him I wanted to birth our child in a birth center with midwives. I told him that we could postpone purchasing me a new car and that I was willing to give up our family vacation. I explained that all those things could wait and could be attained at a later time…

But our child’s birth could not redone.

He held me and reassured me that I had his support.We began saving money and planned our first out of hospital birth experience with midwives – an experience that fortified our marriage, our bond with our children, but most importantly it gave me back the power that was taken from me in my prior birth experiences.

It was the single most empowering time of my life.

I thank myself for having the courage to seek out my own healing. It has brought me here today, possibly to being your midwife guiding you through your own transformative process.

Home Birth

Having your baby at home can be such a beautiful and exciting experience.

Imagine, your baby being born in the same home it was dreamed of, conceived, and prepared for. Your baby already belongs there. Those weeks of “nesting” are literally done in preparing the nest for your baby’s arrival. When you begin your labor there is no car ride to the hospital, there is no wondering if you’ll be admitted or not. At home your team (midwife, assistant, doula etc.) comes to you. You get to eat out of your own kitchen, walk around naked if you please, sleep in your own sheets, and feel assured with the natural comforts of your home. After the birth, your midwife team will clean up and tuck you into your own bed. The only one checking in or checking out will be your midwifery team. Feeling comfortable at home is made possible by your confidence in the comprehensive prenatal care you have received and you rest assured that your emergency care plan has been carefully planned out.

My home birth offerings include all prenatal care, home birth or Birth Center delivery, and postpartum care through 6 weeks postpartum.

Birth Center Birth

Having your baby at a Birth Center can often be the middle ground between home birth and hospital birth.

I have facility privileges at Birth Roots Women’s Health & Maternity Center, the same place where I provide prenatal care, which means I am an independent midwife who pays a facility fee to offer my private clients a birth center option.

Some families prefer a birth center experience because they feel their home is not suitable for their birth due to size, location, or comfort. I have heard some families say they think a birth center option is “safer.” In reality, the safety factors are the same as for a home delivery. All the tools used for a birth at the birth center are neatly packed in your midwives birth bags, which come with her to every home birth. Still, I recognize that birth center birth can grant some parents the middle ground they need to “feel” safe. Having your baby at the birth center is like coming to your midwives home to have your baby rather than your midwife coming to your home. The birth center is a home-like setting for you to labor and birth in naturally. Birth Roots has laboring/birth tubs in all of their rooms. It is truly a great option for those wanting a home-away-from-home birth.

It’s located within ten minutes of two hospitals with 24hr labor and delivery services. Birth Roots is a member of National Association of Birth Centers of Color (NABCC), an organization dedicated to increase the number of maternity clinics and birth centers owned and/or operated by practitioners of color who are committed to serving communities of color. Birth Roots is a teaching facility staffed by two Licensed Midwife and a team of student apprenticing midwives. I feel honored to have not only been a client but also a midwifery student here, and now I’m able to offer my own clients care as a Licensed Midwife at this excellent center. It’s truly a beautiful full circle I have walked with Birth Roots and I’m honored to offer you the opportunity to birth here too.

Why is midwifery care different?

The Midwives Model of Care™ is a fundamentally different approach to pregnancy and childbirth than contemporary obstetrics.

Midwifery care is uniquely nurturing, hands-on care before, during, and after birth. Midwives are health care professionals specializing in pregnancy and childbirth who develop a trusting relationship with their clients, which results in confident, supported labor and birth. While there are different types of midwives practicing in various settings, all midwives are trained to provide comprehensive prenatal care and education, guide labor and birth, address complications, and care for newborns. The Midwives Model of Care™ is based on the fact that pregnancy and birth are normal life events. The Midwives Model of Care includes:

monitoring the physical, psychological and social well-being of the mother throughout the childbearing cycle

providing the mother with individualized education, counseling, and prenatal care, continuous hands-on assistance during labor and delivery, and postpartum support

minimizing technological interventions and

identifying and referring women who require obstetrical attention.

The application of this model has been proven to reduce to incidence of birth injury, trauma, and cesarean section.

Prenatal Care

Prenatal visits are a collaboration of care with you, the mother, in the driver seat. My scope of practice includes treating common pregnancy concerns with nutrition, herbs, vitamins & supplements , homeopathy and body work. We work together to find the best natural remedy for your needs. You steer the direction of our visits with your questions, concerns, ideas and needs. Our office visits will include documentation of your vitals , measuring your belly and heart tones and lab work, but that is not the core of our prenatal visits together. These visits are hand tailored to your needs, whether that be heart to heart chats, a walk on the beach or a home visit when you’re feeling blue. The course of prenatal care is meant to keep you as healthy and whole during your pregnancy to optimize your chances of obtaining the birth experience you are envisioning. It will be full of education and preparation for the road ahead of you.

I offer individual prenatal care visits for clients who are in between providers, traveling, or simply want to receive midwifery care. This offering is priced at $111 and is added to your balance should you choose to hire me for your birth.

Prenatal Care Visits

*All visits are included in the global midwifery care fee. The sooner you start care the better!

Postpartum Care

While the medical model of maternity care only provide you with one 6 week postpartum visit, my midwifery care provides 4-6 postpartum care visits. This care is crucial to your full and radiant recovery and to your metamorphosis as a mother.

Homebirth Midwifery Costs

Global Midwifery Fee: $4444

This global fee includes ALL of your prenatal visits, birth, and postpartum visits.

A $500 deposit is due at your first visit.
Minimum payments of $150 are paid at each prenatal visit and full balance must be paid by week 36 of pregnancy.

For those desiring to birth at the birth center, there is an additional $350 Birth Center Facility Fee.
For questions about health insurance and medical loan options, please see below.

What to expect with Tema as your midwife

What I really love about Midwifery care is that I can take my time with each client. I spend at least 1-2 hours with each client at appointments. I only see two – three clients per day so that I can fully focus and prepare for you.

Often times our appointments turn into counseling and team strategy sessions, but most of all bonding.

I offer home visits for prenatal care and we sometimes even do our visits at the beach. Our prenatal and postpartum appointments are designed just for you and your own unique needs. I want you to leave our appointments feeling confident and cared for.

Visits are conducted on Monday’s, Wednesday’s and Friday’s from 9am – 4pm. My off days and times are sacred to my well being as your midwife. Remember, I will leave any and all special occasions regardless of the day or time when your baby decides to come earth side! During these times you can expect to have a direct line of communication with me via secure messaging portal, text and phone. Your phone calls and messages will be returned promptly.

Medical Loan & Insurance Information

Medical Loan Option

United Medical Credit offers medical loan to help cover partial or full midwifery care costs. This allows you to make payments over a larger range of time. Application and approval time has a quick turn around so that you may start care within days. Click Here to Apply

La Matriz Birth ~ Client Documents

In English

En Español

Informed Consent Doc

Financial Agreement Doc

Doc Consentimiento Informado

Doc Acuerdo Financiero

Electronic Health Care Records

Leaving a small carbon footprint is important to me, using electronic health care records is one small way we can collaborate in taking care of our precious earth Mother. All of your records, prenatal visits summary, contracts, agreements, appointments, messaging, and billing is conveniently handled through Client Care Practice virtual portal. When you decide to have me as your midwife I will send you an activation link to get started.

La Matriz Birth’s Ideal Clients

My clients invest in their birth the same way they might in purchasing a home, buying a car or planning a vacation. They understand that time and dedication is needed into preparing on all levels for their birth. They see value and cherish the way that they will welcome their child into this world.

I work with families that are making an informed decision in hiring a homebirth midwife, and that have a grounded willingness to fully give themselves to this transformative process.

My clients accept a natural birth from rooted place within themselves because they believe in their innate ability to birth. They are open to the many paths that their birth journey can take, and they understand that midwifery care can guide them through this process despite the twist and turns it may take.

What consistent feedback do you get from your past clients?

My clients most enjoy our prenatal visits and all the education that is packed into our sessions.

“Tema is an amazing midwife who counseled me through the loss of my 4th pregnancy. She was able to give me medical, practical, and emotional help through the process of miscarrying my precious babe. I will be forever grateful for her warm and caring heart. She has a true passion for midwifery and for helping women. Thank you, Tema!” ~ Gabriela G.

Ready to begin?

Interested in having something different and special for your upcoming birth? Thinking about Home Birth?
Click the button below to schedule your free consultation with Tema.

Disclaimer: All material provided on this website is for informational or educational purposes only, and is not intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your healthcare professional or physician.